Cat, bat............bucket, ?

So, clearly, Big Sis is learning how to rhyme in school. By rhyming everything. All day. At first I thought it was going to be a (welcome?!) break from her constant singing, but she's just incorporated the rhyming INTO her singing!

So, converstion between Big Sis and Mr.Fix-It the other night (while I was out to happy hour!):
Big Sis: know what rhymes with cat, daddy? Bat!!
Mr. Fix-It: yeah, that's great, sis...
Big Sis: know what rhymes with dad? Bad!!
Mr. Fix-It: right again!
Big Sis: know what rhymes with bucket? ____ it!
Mr. Fi-It: NO MORE RHYMING!!!!

Um, I'm sure you can guess what she came up with to rhyme with bucket. Where she got the idea to rhyme a 2-syllable word... I have no idea. But I hope she doesn't go showing off her advanced skills at school. ;)

It's official....

My siblings and I are currently deciding just WHO will finish up the last of the gifts for our parents (we go in together, which we all love, but this year we're challenged to finish up my mom, because she doesn't want anything!) The 2 young, single siblings are 'too busy.' Hmmm.... ask them what they're too busy doing and it's something like this: work, ski trips, get togethers, etc. Stuff they're doing for their own self. No doubt they're busy. But no doubt we all are, right?

Just got off the phone with my other sibling (full time working mommy of 2).... and she's in the same boat as me. I haven't gotten to pee all day and probably won't when I get home tonight either (which won't be until 8). It's official... I've given up sleeping AND peeing (which is difficult to do when you're surviving on massive doses of caffeine!)... and sometimes even breathing. ;)

Dear Santa, all I want for Christmas is an extra few hours in each day. ;) Kisses, Elaine

Anyone else? :)

Check your mail!

The Semi-Homemade card is in it! Can I just tell you how much I love mail this time of year? Today was Christmas card day - we got 10 just today! From old friends we've had forever (Mr. Fix-It's best friend growing up) to friends from various stages of our life (like Val, from our KS days!), to friends that are new just this year (like Kimmie! Your card made me smile so big today - thank you!!)

And since most of them are in the mail, as of today (thank goodness the studio knew that when I ordered 75, I'd really need 100 and just sent extra!).... I'm ready to send the Semi-Homemade card to you!

(front)
(back)

Then there's the packages.... Shopping online is a neccessity in these crazy times (and 12 hour workdays!) But today.... I got something that I had ordered for me. (Technically, it's 'from' my sister Erin.... hey, she needed ideas and I was happy to provide!) This might be one of my favorites of the season... Custom Photo Ornaments from kkhoff11's Etsy shop.

You pick the colors and customize 4 sides with pictures or text. I don't think I have to even tell you how hard it is to find a totally cool, totally custom, totally reasonably priced ornament for a child's first Christmas.

I chose to put 2 pictures on each of kiddo's ornament. One from the newborn days.... Big Sis:

and G-man:

.....and one from their first Christmas (so Big Sis was 4 days shy of turning 1... G-man was about 5 months).

I picked 2 sides of text. One says "First Christmas" and the other has their first and middle names and birth date and year. I AM IN LOVE! Check out Katie's shop on Etsy and tell her I sent you!

And (by the end of this weekend!), I WILL have pics from Big Sis's Semi-Homemade Nutcracker 'Sweet' birthday party!

Let's just say.... the line between bravery and stupidity is very, very fine when it comes to hosting over a dozen 4 yr olds in your home. ;)

Today is a venti day

And even my venti skinny vanilla latte (that I almost killed myself for!) isn't helping. (Okay, so maybe I didn't almost die, but I almost broke my legs... in a nutshell, the drive-thru line was long, we were running late, and I made Big Sis run in to the actual starbucks with me... but it was ICY and as I was running - in high heel boots - around my car to get her out, I slipped on ice (remember that we live in TX!) and almost took a huge fall. I think I pulled a muscle.... and my muscles are mad at me anyway, because they miss the treadmill!)

Hmmmm.... if only Coffeemate had sent those coupons (the ones they wanted to send after the big 'Dear Coffeemate' post in Oct... the ones I was going to share with a lucky few of you who had commented....) but they didn't....

With some insane work deadlines (think 12+ hr days for me this wk) and Big Sis's Nutcracker 'Sweet' birthday party at our house on Sat.... I've officially given up sleeping. Until Sat night. Upon which I will succumb to a wine-induced coma. By that point, don't send help. ;)

Tutu Cute - Big Sister's Ballet Debut

I had talked it over with a couple other moms and we all agreed... tonight would be entertaining, yes.... interesting, yes.... but prima ballerinas....

.....we doubted we'd see. We might have been mostly right, but what a surprise!

When I ask Big Sis to see what she learned in ballet for the week, she usually gives me a vocabulary word (sometimes as impressive as arabesque!) and can usually demonstrate it. As far as stringing together more than 1 (maybe 2!) moves.... that happens about as often as I've been jogging in the last couple wks (never!!)

This is Big Sis's bff.... they're the tallest girls in their class and when they get together they are SILLY! Which is maybe why the ballet teacher put them on opposite ends of the 'stage' for the recital? ;)

But, wow! I was so proud! Big Sis paid attention and was one of the best little dancers! Her toes were pointed, she was on beat (mostly).... I almost got teary!! My little ballerina is growing up!

Here's a little Under the Sea action ;)

Each ballerina did her 'ballet walk' around the room by herself. My ballerina was definitely not one of the shy ones!

A class full of pretty girls

For having a momma who never took ballet, Big Sis was impressive! And for being the momma who never took ballet... I'm hooked! Tonight was so fun! :)

PERSONALIZED Santa messages!

How cool is this? I don't have time to spell out all the details, but you can read all about it here on Design Dazzle! Basically, you fill in your child's name, what they've been working on (hello! listening!!!), and upload a picture of your kiddo, and done! You'll have a FREE movie clip of Santa, live from the North Pole, speaking to your child. Just click here to set yours up (but if you want an example, check out Toni's here!) I love it! I'm going to do this... as soon as I have a spare second. Maybe after Big Sister's Nutcracker "Sweet" birthday party, which is this.weekend. (OMG! So much to do!)

That Silly Elf!

Yes, it's looking like Christmas at the Semi-Homemade House (although you'd never know it with my total.complete.lack of blogging lately. Sorry! I know I'm the only overwhelmed one around here!) ;) I promise to share a few semi-homemade decorating ideas - like this Preppy Pink & Green Tree I did for Big Sis's room - really soon! (Yes, that's tulle - shut up! I decorated this for PENNIES and what's even cooler? I can store it fully decorated and just get it out again next year!)

The silly Elf on a Shelf first came to our house last Christmas. And although Big Sis was a little young for it, probably.... this year she's ENTHRALLED with it. Every morning, she seriously bounces out of bed to look for him. (Because, in case you don't know, every night the Elf leaves and goes back to the North Pole to report on the kiddos' behavior that day. He comes back before morning and is in a diff spot!) Sometimes, he's done silly things, and he's left a small gift or two (think princss lip gloss from the $ section at target!), but mostly he just moves around and waits to be found!

This is where we found him one morning over the weekend....

sitting in a bunch of candy (and with the candles mom had just covered with scrapbook paper!)

And just look what this silly Elf did today. Santa came to school today to see the kiddos. And the Elf knew that, of course. So, what did he do? Laid out their school clothes ON the Christmas tree! Right down to Big Sis's (princess!) panties and tights and G-man's socks. Crazy Elf...

And just to share an amazing find.... This was NOT the year we wer planning to replace our kids' tree that we decorate upstairs (duh, we're in a recession!), but when our old tree (meaning so old I had it before I married Mr. Fix-It!!) broke at the base AS we were putting it together with the kids (picture totally disappointed Big Sis when we told her she couldn't hang the ornaments she's made at school for past holidays!) But.... wally world to the rescue. For $35, we scored a 6ft pre-lit tree with white lights. Amazing!!

And here's the recession-proof tree, all lit up. Ahhh... :) Hope you're enjoying the holiday season!

A Semi-Homemade Christmas Tradition

In the Semi-Homemade house, we're big on tradition, especially this time of year! I'll be pulling something together soon on all our traditions, and I want to hear from you about yours!

This weekend is one of my favorite (and I think, most unique!) holiday traditions, and we call it Mom's Weekend. This is our 8th annual (we started it when we got married and lived in KS!) and it keeps getting better & better! Both moms (mine and Mr. Fix-It's) come for the weekend (sometimes they come together - if their schedules allow - sometimes not!) We spend the weekend shopping (checking things off our lists!) and EATING! We go to Cheesecake Factory every.single.year. And I wouldn't give that up for anything! We shop and eat our way through the weekend, getting in the holiday spirit and staying there. I can't tell you how much we look forward to this and plan it waaaay in advance, so nothing gets in the way!

My MIL got in last night and my mom is on her way. Cheesecake, here we come! (This is my fav.... snickers!)

And speaking of getting in the holiday spirit... One of my fav bloggers & Etsy shop owners, Amber at RockerByeBaby is doing something great to help someone else have a happy holiday. Read her own personal story, it's touching. Several of my awesome readers own businesses that might be able to help, others can maybe clean out some great hand-me-downs to send.... I've done my share of complaining about this damn recession, but I'm so happy to help those who have truly been impacted at devastating levels. I just love the Spirit of Christmas....

Free Holiday Printables

As a momma with a crazy schedule, I totally have momAgenda on my Christmas list this year! I've given them as gifts several times and get such good reviews!

And even cooler? All the free printables they have year round! Like the Holiday Card Sent/Received list.

And the Holiday Gift Purchases - super handy! Go here to see the holiday ones, as well as their lists to help you organize Back To School, Spring and Summer, and year round!

Gobble, gobble

Hope you and yours had a blessed Thanksgiving full of family, laughter and lots of calories! ;)

I'll be back super soon with some Christmas goodness, updates on Big Sister's Nutcracker "Sweet" birthday party planning and lots more. I've got a couple of long work days ahead and some preparation for one of our longest Christmas traditions at the Semi-Homemade House.... Mom's Weekend! Until then... hurry and try to cash in on the millions of deals my dear friend Sasha has found for us! I just ordered Big Sis the PBK Mermaid beach towel with her name on it for her birthday! Shhhh.....don't tell!

.

~~~~Okay, so I just went back and ordered the Shark beach towel for G-man. They're $9.99 with FREE SHIPPING and FREE MONOGRAMMING! Hell, I'm tempted to buy them for all our friends' kids and the neighbor kids and my nephews and nieces... okay, someone stop me. ;)